Newsletter           27 December 2009

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

A reminder of our special one-off event in the new year

Click here for Southbank website and booking details

More on Virginia Luque

More on Gordon Giltrap

Upcoming 2010 Acoustic Sussex shows:

Visit our MySpace jukebox to hear sample tracks for upcoming artists.

Now playing:
Sam Carter, Ewan McLennan, Anais Mitchell, Iain Morrison, Jeff Lang, Kate Walsh, Jono Harrison

Ø     Monday 18 January
Click here for more details below

  Sam Carter
+ Ewan McLennan

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Saturday 30 January
Click here for more details below

Anaïs Mitchell
Support: Iain Morrison

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Monday 8 February
Click here for more details below

Jeff Lang
Support: Emily Baker

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Thursday 11 February
Click here for more details below

Hounds of Love
The music of Kate Bush

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Saturday 27 February
Click here for more details below

Kate Walsh
Support: Jono Harrison

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Monday
18 January 2010
8pm
Sam Carter
+ Ewan McLennan

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk

£10 (£13  door)   8.00pm
Buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

or ‘book now, pay later’ on 01342 714810/716975

Watch video clip of Sam Carter here

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This ‘double-header’ show is one definitely not to miss. Described by Bellowhead's Jon Boden as ‘the finest English-style finger-picking guitarist of his generation’, 2010 Horizon Award nominated Sam Carter is a startlingly perceptive and self-assured young singer and guitarist from the Midlands. He's spent the last few years busily honing his craft both as a writer and performer, studying guitar with Martin Simpson whilst holding down his post as Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank Centre. Armed with a 'killer voice' (Nitin Sawhney) and the ability to play his guitar 'like a harp' (Time Out), as well as an unerring ability to put his personal experiences into a wider perspective, Sam is now certain to make his mark with his wonderful debut album 'Keepsakes'.

"Keepsakes is a surefire collectible" Independent

"One of the most gifted acoustic guitarists of his generation" Mike Harding

"A sophisticated blender of ancient and modern" Uncut

"An English acoustic virtuoso… Fans of acoustic music rejoice, the UK ’s proud tradition of folk singer-songwriters is in safe hands" Guitarist

Ewan McLellan is a young Scottish musician who's been impressing audiences all over the UK including large venues such as London's Southbank (where we first saw him). Ewan's singing and playing covers the broad range folk music has to offer; from traditional ballads sung unaccompanied, to dance tunes or melancholic airs arranged for the guitar, and, as importantly, his own contemporary songwriting that follows firmly in the folk tradition.

"Don't you love it when you come across music that is new to you and you find that it delights and excites you? ...A listener emailed me to say I should listen to Ewan McLennan. So I did...the only way I can describe McLennan is as coming from the same stable as Dick Gaughan and Archie Fisher, while at the same time being truly original. His voice is clear and strong with an appealing vibrato and his feeling for the narrative is strong and consistent. This is what the Irish call "the pure drop"...I'm sure you'll like him.' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Read review of Keepsakes
Sam Carter

Ewan McLennan

Saturday
30 January 2010
7.30pm
Anaïs Mitchell

at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk

Support: Iain Morrison

£11 all seats  
Box Office 01342 302000

Watch video clip of Anaïs Mitchell here

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What can we say about Anaïs Mitchell (who played her first ever UK gig for Acoustic Sussex in 2005 and now makes her 4^th welcome return)?  Well, at a time when the music industry seems to be using flash and dazzle campaigns to distract us from the dubious quality of some the acts they present, Anaïs is, by contrast, someone who grew up on a sheep farm and developed a music form all of her own: poetic, sometimes challenging, and always enchanting.

Listening to this young singer/songwriter perform her meticulously written songs, fervently singing them in a distinctive, almost childlike voice, you’d think it was her life mission to rouse the hearts and minds of her listeners with an acoustic guitar. She’s spent time in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, bringing a worldly depth to her writing, which she presents to her audience with a graceful presence of spirit.

Whilst Anaïs isn’t new to Acoustic Sussex audiences, this is the first time she’s played at the larger Chequer Mead Arts Centre venue, so we’re hoping for a great turn-out from her ever-increasing fan-base.

2010 will also see the CD release of the unique 'folk-opera' Hadestown that Anaïs has written and performed in back in her native Vermont. Expect to hear samples from the opera in this special UK headlining date.

"The earthiness of Shawn Colvin, the child-like bite of Joanna Newsom, and the urban jumpiness of Ani DiFranco."  AllMusic

“A songwriter of startling clarity and depth, equally skilled at turning a melody or lyrical phrase into what you didn't know you needed until you heard it." Acoustic Guitar magazine

Support for this show is from a truly exciting new artist on the scene, Iain Morrison, who’s coming all the way from the Outer Hebrides just to do this show. His exceptional and eclectic Sinking Boats CD was one of our 'best of 2009'.

"An enigmatic and truly original mix of creative elements ..startlingly imaginative, even surreal observations" Hi-Arts

"A remarkable slice of rural folk"  Rock n Reel

"Highly recommended" The List

Anaïs Mitchell

Hadestown Folk Opera

Iain Morrison

Monday
8 February 2010
8pm
Jeff Lang

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk

Support: Emily Baker
£10 (£13  door) 
Buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

or ‘book now, pay later’ on 01342 714810

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Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Lang is world renowned as a prolific artist who has defied categorization by bending and blurring genres to create his own ever-evolving sound from the base ingredients of folk, rock, blues, experimental and world music styles.

The road he has travelled over this past decade has yielded the rewards of many a hard-working musician's dreams - 13 studio albums, widespread acclaim, a devoted fan base, an exemplary back catalogue, an ARIA Award in addition to countless nominations, invitations to the world's most prestigious festivals, and coveted tours with such icons as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan.

Blending rock, roots, folk, blues, ballads, instrumentals, improvisation and a devastatingly high level of musicality, Jeff Lang is a singularly unique performer in our world.

"Australia's best roots-music artisan." Rolling Stone

"Seeing Jeff Lang was like being at church for three hours - a totally sacred event. He's the man as far as I'm concerned." John Butler

"Is he...rock...blues...country...folk...from Mars? No, actually he's all of the above - if not quite extraterrestrial - and a lot more...a one of a kind."
The Australian

Support is Emily Baker, winner of the 2009 Arts Foundation Award for songwriting, has supported artists such as Pete Doherty (who cites Emily as an early influence) and Beth Rowley. Her new debut CD ‘Lay the Foundations’ is a real delight and highly recommended.

Jeff Lang

Emily Baker

Thursday
11 February 2010
8pm
Hounds of Love
The music of Kate Bush

at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk

£12 (£10 conc)  
Box Office 01342 302000

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Kate Bush only toured once, in 1979. With the blessing and personal involvement of her of her former tour manager and Kate herself, Hounds of Love is the first time that a live interpretation of her music has been toured in the UK.

This is no pastiche or cabaret act. Fronted by the passionate and impressive Josie Mills, this dedicated band of musicians are bringing to life songs that deservedly appeal to generations of music lovers. The band's programme includes many of Kate's hit's including Wuthering Heights, Babooshka, The Big Sky, Wow and Running Up The Hill, amongst others. Without attempting to emulate the voice of Kate Bush, Josie finds the expression to communicate Kate's songs with impressive, passionate sympathy.

Watch the band on their dedicated YouTube Channel and read some of the comments from people who've seen the band live, eg.

"Just to hear the songs performed live would have been enough, but your vocal mastery and the bands performance was astounding."

"Saw you at Milton Keynes and was amazed! Kate herself would have been so proud."

Hounds of Love

Saturday
27 February 2010
7.30pm
Kate Walsh
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk

Support: Jono Harrison

£12 (£10 conc)  
Box Office 01342 302000

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Two years ago, 26 year old Kate Walsh recorded her beautiful debut album in her producer's bedroom for £500. It became an iTunes sensation, going straight to the No1 spot. Not bad for an album of delicately fragile and, some would say, confessional songs.

Calling 26-year-old Kate a singer songwriter is like saying Van Gogh was a cartoonist. Kate is, er, different. She adores Debussy, studies cello, listens constantly to Classic FM (and little else) and bemoans the demise of vinyl and CDs. She's entertainingly scathing about the conventional music industry (”it’s fickle, selfish, impersonal and backstabbing”) – and has established her own cottage industry to do it her way. And when she sits down to write a song you’d better lock up your hearts for you instantly become Kate’s close personal confidante as she bares her soul with shocking candour.

Listening to the very real pain and fragility of her music you imagine the author must be a quivering wreck permanently teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Far from it – chattering away ten to the dozen like she’s known you all her life, Kate Walsh is warm, funny and likeably self-deprecating, fully recognising the self-indulgent nature of the confessional songwriter’s art. And art this truly is.

Whilst Kate insists she's not ambitious for fame or glory, she is - rightly in our view - immensely proud of the bigger sounds that characterise her latest CD, Light & Dark.

Kate Walsh

Read about Kate in the Sunday Times Culture magazine published in November 2009

Don’t forget that as well as our own shows, the Acoustic Sussex website has a Regional Gig Guide and links to venues and clubs in the South East that offer folk, roots and acoustic music – and our MySpace site contains over 500 links to a variety of other MySpace ‘friends’ sites, including musicians, venues, magazines and lots more.

Regional Gig Guide

For your future diaries...

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Acoustic Sussex is grateful for the funding support provided in 2009 by the PRS for Music Foundation

Future 2010 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø     8 March – Dave Swarbrick + support (tbc)

Ø     23 March – Lau + support Matthew Ord

Ø     1 April – Martin Simpson + support Emily Slade

Ø     26 April – Emily Smith + support (tbc)

Ø     17 May - Eliza Gilkyson

Ø     16 September – Show of Hands

More information can be found on our website: www.acousticsussex.org.uk. You can also find us on MySpace (with samples from some of the artists appearing) at: www.myspace.com/acousticsussex. If you know anyone who you think may enjoy our events, please forward this email to them.

If you know anyone who you think may enjoy our events, please forward this email to them. Many thanks

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